My son sums up Memorial Day for me

Tuesday

May 31, 2011 at 12:01 AMMay 31, 2011 at 8:10 PM

I didn't make it this year to anything on Memorial Day. Pressures from daily life and just being flat-out tired from working for most of the weekend meant Monday was a slow day. But guilt got the best of me and I spent some time talking to my five-year-old and my two-year-old about what the holiday is about and why they should care. I figured it was falling on deaf ears or at least, it was over their heads. I mean, they are 5 and 2.

Well, after a day at a friend's house and dinner, my son curled up in my lap and watched some TV. In some random move that only makes sense to a five-year-old, he sat up and said, "daddy, I know why we have a flag and why we are happy for the soldier guys."

Why, I asked, frankly, expecting some kinda off topic or at least, something that had to do with getting a cookie.

"because they protected us from the bad guys who wanted to take my toys. I like them for doing that."

He then laid back down and soon was singing some song about a snake. I, though, was kinda proud. Here's a boy who is growing up in a nonmilitary home. He gets it. Let's hope he will continue with that.

And to all the men and women who didn't make it back. Thanks. my "toys" or my freedoms are here because of you. Heck, my entire life probably is due to the American armed forces. If Hitler had overpowered the Allies, my family wouldn't be here, so thanks.

And to our living veterans, thanks to you. I hope you had a good day, and I hope you did what you needed to honor your friends and colleagues. As Bob Marley once sang....

"In this bright future you can't forget your past."

akravetz

I didn't make it this year to anything on Memorial Day. Pressures from daily life and just being flat-out tired from working for most of the weekend meant Monday was a slow day. But guilt got the best of me and I spent some time talking to my five-year-old and my two-year-old about what the holiday is about and why they should care. I figured it was falling on deaf ears or at least, it was over their heads. I mean, they are 5 and 2.

Well, after a day at a friend's house and dinner, my son curled up in my lap and watched some TV. In some random move that only makes sense to a five-year-old, he sat up and said, "daddy, I know why we have a flag and why we are happy for the soldier guys."

Why, I asked, frankly, expecting some kinda off topic or at least, something that had to do with getting a cookie.

"because they protected us from the bad guys who wanted to take my toys. I like them for doing that."

He then laid back down and soon was singing some song about a snake. I, though, was kinda proud. Here's a boy who is growing up in a nonmilitary home. He gets it. Let's hope he will continue with that.

And to all the men and women who didn't make it back. Thanks. my "toys" or my freedoms are here because of you. Heck, my entire life probably is due to the American armed forces. If Hitler had overpowered the Allies, my family wouldn't be here, so thanks.

And to our living veterans, thanks to you. I hope you had a good day, and I hope you did what you needed to honor your friends and colleagues. As Bob Marley once sang....

"In this bright future you can't forget your past."

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